Golf game



Sept. 18, 1962 Filed April 22, 1960 B. O. BUDISH GOLF GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \JNVENTOR BERNARD o. BUDISH ATTORNEYS Sept. 18, 1962 B. o. BUDISH 3,954,615

GOLF GAME Filed April 22, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 e- 7 5 G 37 r as 2 j /4 I: i 5 a, r is ('28 him I I /3 s I l is 3' I l I u 1 u 32 37 34 Z7 gm; 2e 35 w L\\\\ Z5 25 j INVENTOR BERNARD O. BUDlSH ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,054,615 GULF GAlWE Bernard 0. Budish, 13617 Ferguson Road, Waukesha, Wis. Filed Apr. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 24,014 3 Claims. (Cl. 27387.4)

This invention appertains to games, and more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in golf games.

There has long been a need for a miniature golf game for golfing enthusiasts, and for those who would like to learn and become familiar with the rules of golf, which can be played in a restricted area, and which will simulate or faithfully duplicate the shots or strokes of the parent game. It is also desirable to provide a game in which the hazards and obstacles are realistically reproduced and more particularly, wherein the action of the ball very nearly approaches the action of a full sized golf ball during lay. P Therefore, a primary object of my present invention is to provide an improved miniature golf game that can be played on a table surface, on the floor, or even set up outdoors in a small restricted area, to duplicate all of the action and skill required in the outdoor game of golf.

Another important object of my present invention is to provide a golf game of a miniature or reduced scale type in which the ball is propelled about the fairways, roughs and greens through means of a golf club (which may be changed to the desired type of club as required) and which is operative to impart a sharp blow or snap to the ball simulating the manner of driving, putting etc. in a realistic manner.

A salient feature of my present invention resides in the fact that the parent game can be faithfully duplicated in miniature by providing a variety of different clubs and providing golf balls which may be rolled, topped or lofted and which may be in fact given all of the various impulses that the ball receives in a regular golf game, and especially in which the ball can be readily driven through the air over obstacles or hazards.

A further object of my present invention is to provide two different golf balls, one of which can be made of a light material, such as any of the plastics or resilient type materials, now on the market, and which can be gas inflated so as to be only slightly heavier than air. This particular ball being used for teeing and approach shots. The second ball being of a relatively heavier material and being magnetized so as to cling to a metal surface which is provided in particular under the putting greens.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide a playing surface that is designed to faithfully duplicate the playing surface of a regular golf game, having fairways, traps, obstacles and roughs of difierent material consistency and having smooth putting greens, the fairways and roughs, as well as the greens being shaped or contoured to further add to the realism, and whereby the fairways are provided with a fuzzy material and given a slightly tacky finish so that the ball will adhere to the surface thereof in a manner similar to a regular golf game, the greens, of course, being smooth as aforementioned, and having a metal under surface, whereby the magnetized ball with cling thereto.

An important object of my present invention is to provide a playing surface wherein a number of holes may be arranged and also wherein certain sections can be removed and then different types of sections, representing different holes, can be substituted in lieu thereof.

A further object of my present invention is to provide the aforementioned two types of golf balls which will adhere and react to the two types of surfaces mentioned, as well as to provide a single golf ball which could have 3,fi54,fil5 Patented Sept. 18, 1962 ice able.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a simple, practical and reliable construction that is relatively economical to manufacture, easy to assemble and positive in its operation.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

One preferred and practical embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view illustrating one type of playing surface utilizing three holes;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the playing surface;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1 of the drawings, looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating further details in the construction of my game;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical section on an enlarged scale, the section being represented by the lines 4-4 of FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, looking in the direction of the arrows and clearly showing one of the ball return chutes;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of one type of golfing figure that may be utilized with my game certain parts being broken away and in section to illustrate details in the construction;

FIGURE 6 is a substantially horizontal transverse section taken through the golfing figure, the section being represented by the line 66 of FIGURE 5 of the draw ings and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of one of the balls utilized in my game, certain parts being broken away and in section to show its construction, and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the other ball used in my game with certain parts being broken away and in section to illustrate its construction.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter G generally indicates my novel game, and the same includes broadly the frame member 10 made up of the three sections or holes, 11, 12 and 13, representing the greens 14, the fairways 15, the tees 16, obstacles and hazards 17 as well as the holes 18 and the flag marker 19. The game also broadly includes the golfing figure 2t and a movable tee surface 21.

It is obvious that the playing surface can be made in any desired size and configuration, for example, it could be made so as to cover a complete basement or playroom floor, or to cover a certain area outside of the house, by providing contoured mats and like. Further, it could be contoured or formed from wire mesh covered with suitable fiexible material to simulate the greens, fairways and roughs. However, in the form illustrated, I provide a rectangular shaped frame 22 made of any desired material, but preferably wood, of a size and configuration to fit upon a table surface, such as a Ping-pong table or the like. The rectangular frame then includes the two longitudinal side members 23 and the end members 24. Further, note FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings, I provide intermediate bracing and support members 25 which are preferably shaped in the configuration of the inner edges of the sections 11, 12 and 13. Further, the upper surfaces of the rectangular frame and the inner support memhers are provided with apertures or sockets indicated by the numeral 26. The reason for these spaced apertures or sockets 26 will become apparent as the description proceeds.

The sections 11, 12 and 13 may also be contoured and formed in any desired manner and made from any formable material, such as molded plastic, hard rubber, even shaped wood and the like, but preferably, since the undersurface of the green should be metal, I stamp each piece from metal sheets 27, 28 and 29, as shown. As previously mentioned, the contour of each section and location of the putting greens and holes can be varied as desired, and in fact these sections are removable and another section of different characteristics can be utilized in lieu thereof. Each section, however, is provided with inwardly extending peripheral flanges 3t 31 and 32, respectively, and these flanges are in turn provided with depending pins 33, 34, and 35 respectively. These pins are spaced so as to correspond and be in alignment with the sockets or apertures 26 formed in the frame and support members. Obviously, therefore, when the pins are received in the sockets they will be held firmly in place, but each section can be easily and readily removed and a different type of section substituted therefor.

Further, each section is provided with the fairway 15, and the green 14 and as noted more particularly in FIG- URE 4 of the drawings, the fairway is provided with a fuzzy surface 36 which is more fuzzy, or less smooth, than the green surface 37 and the sloping portions 38 of the fairways or roughs in each section will be slightly coated with an adhesive so as to hold the ball on the slopes. Again, these surfaces may be formed in any desired manner but I have found that green cloth of the type utilized on pool tables and the like is admirably suited for the job, and it is only necessary that the fuzzy surface be different between the fairways and the greens as described.

Each hole 18 is provided at its under surface with a chute 39 which leads from a hole to an outer frame member, and obviously, for the inner section 12 I provide an additional chute 40in alignment with the same, and formed as a part of an outer section 13. The obstacles may be also formed of any desired material, and the bushes and trees, while shown afiixed to the surface, are really in the preferred form, made portable so that they can be moved about and thus create different approaches to the holes 18.

The golfing figure 20 per se can also be formed from any desired material but the center section 41 thereof must be resilient or springy and can be a spring or a resilient rubber material as shown. Further, the arms or some portion of the upper body must be provided with a socket 42 to receive the shaft 43 of a club C.

The movable tee 21 is provided so that it may be placed in the positions shown in each section, but also so that if desired, in varying the game it can be placed rearward or forward of the tee position so as to make a back tee surface.

Attention is now directed to FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings, which illustrate the two balls utilized in playing my game, but again I wish to stress that it is conceivable that one ball having the characteristics of the two balls, which I am about to describe, could be used. For example, I can conceive of a hollow plastic ball having a metal band formed thereon, and which band is magnetized and the ball filled with a light gas, such as helium, to give it the desired characteristics when teeing off, and making an approach shot, and to adhere to the greens when putting. However, I have illustrated two balls for my present game, and the ball B shown in FIG. 7 is hollow and is formed of a plastic or rubber 44 as desired, and the outer. surface may be smooth, if desired, but preferably is slightly fuzzy as shown at 45, so that the same will adhere to the fairways, roughs and slopes in a manner similar to the action of a regular golf ball in deep grass. This ball I3 is also preferably filled with a helium gas H so that it is only slighly heavier than air the purpose of which will become apparent as I describe the playing of the game. In FIGURE 8 I have disclosed a solid ball B, preferably made of metal, and it is to be understood that this solid metal could be magnetized, but I have shown a magnetized ring portion 46 and the rest of the body 47 is not magnetized. The reason for this is that I have found that the ball more nearly simulates the characteristics of a golf ball when putting than a ball formed of completely magnetic material.

In playing my golf game, it should be again noted that the over-all appearance simulates a typical golf course, hole or holes. The colors are bright green grass with the contrasting white ball, and the hazards are as appear on a regular golf course. In playing, I place the portable tee 21 in the position shown in FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings. Upon this tee, I place the ball B and the golfing figure is then aligned with the ball and with a club C preferably of the wood type properly aligned adjacent the ball. The person playing the game will use his finger and thumb to pull back the upper body portion of the golfing figure and thus, the golf club to the proper position, and then release the same and the club will hit the hall B in the direction of the green according to the skill utilized. The gas inflated ball B will rise, slice, hook, go high or low, depending on the contact from the swinging club previously adjusted by the player. A good shot would land on the fairway surface 15 in the proximity of the point indicated by the numeral 5%). The golfing figure would then be moved to that point (not the tee 21), adjacent where the ball stopped and the club would then be removed and a club simulating an iron would probably be utilized in its place. The figure would then be actuated in a manner above described and the ball struck again. This second shot, if a good one, would probably land somewhere on the green, in the proximity of a point indicated by the numeral 51. When this gas inflated ball B settles on the green surface or fringe of the green, it is then replaced with the ball B which is the magnetic ball, and it should be again noted that both of these balls are the same in size and appearance. The third shot then would be a putt from the point 51 towards the hole 18, and would be made with a hard rubber putter club injected into the socket 42 of the golf figure 20. It should be again stressed that when putting on the green which has the under layer of metal, the ball B will not roll off a normal slope of the green, but will cling to the surface of the green hugging the ground, so to speak, and stop near the hole in a manner similar to the behavior of a regular golf ball on a regular putting green. When the ball is putted into the hole the same will be automatically returned through the chute or tube 39 jutting out of one of the side frame members. Then the portable tee 21 would be removed to the next tee location indicated for example by the numeral 16 of section 12, and the same procedure would be followed. When the hole was completed on the section 12 the portable tee would be moved to the tee location 16 in section 13 which incidentally as shown, would be referred to as a dogleg hole.

Again, I wish to stress that both of the balls B and B are scientifically designed to give the actions and rolling characteristics of a real golf ball, naturally, scaled down to miniature. This means that the helium filled ball is so designed that it cannot be struck so hard with the club that it will travel the entire length of the playing surface. In fact, in the so-called long hole shots it cannot be struck hard enough to reach the green in one shot, as this, of course, would not be possible in a regular golf game. This game, including the balls and clubs, is designed to simulate as close as possible to scale the regular game of golf.

From the foregoing, it should be apparent that I have provided a novel miniature golf game which approaches and simulates in a very realistic manner, the regular game of golf, and it would be readily played by golf enthusiasts and could be utilized to great advantage by beginners in learning the layout of golf eourse, the language utilized in golf and the type of clubs needed to make certain shots.

While I have shown and described certain specific enibodiments of my invention, it will be understood that these embodiments are merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised and that changes may be made in the proportions and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a miniature golf game in combination, a ball of solid material capable of being magnetized, a second ball of little mass being hollow and filled with a lighter than air gas to a point where said ball is only slightly heavier than air, said second ball being covered With a fuzzy material, a playing surface having irregular and rolling contours to provide roughs, fairways and greens, a sheet of magnetic material underlying each green, said playing surface being covered with a fuzzy material, a club having a shaft and a head of the putter type, a golfing figure having means to receive said club and means for operating said club to strike said ball toward a hole provided in said green, said second ball being utilized on the fairways,

roughs, traps and the like and said first ball being utilized on said greens, said first ball clinging to and hugging said green surface due to its magnetic attraction to the underlying magnetic material.

2. A golf game as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fuzzy surface of the green is of a smoother nature than the fuzzy surface of the fairways and roughs.

3. A golf game as ,set forth in claim 1, wherein said playing surface is divided into removable sections, and chutes for each section extending from a respective hole to a side of said playing surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 720,191 Taylor Feb. 10, 1903 731,825 Voorhees June 23, 1903 1,621,057 Brewer Mar. 15, 1927 1,636,042 Buckberg July 19, 1927 1,694,691 Rentz Dec. 11, 1928 2,259,916 Wheeler et al Oct. 21, 1941 2,277,057 Bach Mar. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 314,493 Italy Jan. 29, 1934 

